Leukocyte immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptors [LILRs, also known as Ig-like transcripts (ILTs)] are a family of inhibitory and stimulatory receptors encoded within the leukocyte receptor complex and are expressed by immune cell types of both myeloid and lymphoid lineage. Several members of the LILR family recognize major histocompatibility complex class I. The immunomodulatory role of LILR receptors indicates that they may exert an influence on signaling pathways of both innate and adaptive immune systems. LILR activity can also influence the antigen-presenting properties of macrophages and dendritic cells and may thus play a role in T-cell tolerance. The wide-ranging effects of LILR signaling on immune cell activity imply that these receptors are likely to play an important role in a range of clinical situations including pregnancy, transplantation, and arthritis (including the human leukocyte antigen B27-associated spondyloarthropathies). In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the nature and function of LILRs, focusing on their regulation of immune cell activity and their potential role in disease.

Background: Surgical mortality data are collected routinely in high-income countries, yet virtually no low-or middle-income countries have outcome surveillance in place. The aim was prospectively to collect worldwide mortality data following emergency abdominal surgery, comparing findings across countries with a low, middle or high Human Development Index (HDI).Methods: This was a prospective, multicentre, cohort study. Self-selected hospitals performing emergency surgery submitted prespecified data for consecutive patients from at least one 2-week interval during July to December 2014. Postoperative mortality was analysed by hierarchical multivariable logistic regression.

Aims and method We used an online questionnaire to investigate medical students' perceptions of the apparent hierarchy between specialties, whether they have witnessed disparaging comments (‘badmouthing’ or ‘bashing’) against other specialists and whether this has had an effect on their career choice.Results In total, 960 students from 13 medical schools completed the questionnaire; they ranked medical specialties according to the level of badmouthing and answered questions on their experience of specialty bashing. Psychiatry and general practice attracted the greatest number of negative comments, which were made by academic staff, doctors and students. Twenty-seven per cent of students had changed their career choice as a direct result of bashing and a further 25.5% stated they were more likely to change their specialty choice. Although 80.5% of students condemned badmouthing as unprofessional, 71.5% believed that it is a routine part of practising medicine.Clinical implications Bashing of psychiatry represents another form of stigmatisation that needs to be challenged in medical schools. It not only has an impact on recruitment into the specialty, but also has the wider effect of stigmatising people with mental health disorders.

Our findings define normal levels and tissue expression of FHCs, and support the hypothesis that disregulation of heavy chain expression may play a pathogenic role in spondyloarthropathy.

Background: Leukocyte Ig-like receptors (LILR) are a family of innate immune receptors with immunomodulatory functions. High-level expression of the receptors LILRB2 (ILT4) and LILRB4 (ILT3) is a feature of tolerogenic antigen presenting cells and has been observed in cancer and transplant situations. There are relatively few studies regarding these receptors in the context of infection and it is not yet clear how LILRB4 exerts its inhibitory effects.